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Eden sails towards greater cruise ship capacity

Eden will enjoy the benefits of bigger cruise ships and more frequent visits, thanks to the NSW Government granting planning approval for a modification to the existing Eden Breakwater Wharf Extension.

It comes off the back of Eden’s busiest summer cruise season on record, expected to pump an estimated $19 million into the local economy, based on previous data from the Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA).

Eden is well equipped to handle cruise ship visits, and the approved planning modification will ensure the region is fit for future cruise growth by allowing greater capacity.

The changes will open Eden up to larger cruise ships from all over the world over the next decade and beyond.

The modification application approval to the Eden Cruise Wharf includes:

Removing the current cruise ship visit cap of 60 visits per season, helping to grow the number of visits for the long-term future;
Allowing vessels up to 370 metres to call at the berth (up from 325 metres);
The opportunity for overnight berthing, increasing the opportunity for visitors to explore and experience the beautiful Sapphire Coast and beyond;
Removing the 100m length limit on other vessel types to call at the berth including naval vessels, optimising the use of this world class facility.

Minor physical modifications with minimal construction will be required to the wharf, with Port Authority currently preparing the Operational Environmental Management Plan which is expected to be ready by the end of 2024.

Transport Minister Jo Haylen:

“Eden is already our state’s largest regional cruise port – and we’re making it even better, lifting the cap on visits and increasing NSW’s already booming market share of Australia’s cruising industry.

“Cruising is one of Eden’s biggest economic drivers, so allowing bigger international ships to sail will bring enormous benefits to the region for years to come.

“Investing in our regional ports is a no-brainer. We want people from all over the world to experience everything our stunning state has to offer and ensure we all reap the economic rewards.

Minister for Planning and Public Spaces Paul Scully:

“Eden’s maritime history stretches back to its whaling days almost 200 years ago and has evolved to become the popular tourism destination it is today.

“This modern-day maritime project unlocks huge opportunities for the Sapphire Coast region to support the local economy and create ongoing local jobs.”

Member for Bega Dr Michael Holland MP:

“Cruise visitors bring a new energy to the local community, and locals – particularly our hard-working businesses – love seeing passengers step onto our shores.

“We’re pleased to grow our capacity and maximise the number of people who can spend time in our region, which is unparallelled in its natural beauty, hospitality, tours and charm.”

Port Authority CEO Captain Philip Holliday:

“We already have 26 cruise ship visits booked for upcoming summer cruise season in Eden and we look forward to welcoming the first ship, Disney Wonder, into the Port of Eden on 30 October.

“As the upcoming cruise seasons build momentum and more bookings are secured, we are likely to see a greater number of cruise ships add Eden to their itineraries, which could include first-time visits for Majestic Princess and Ovation of the Seas.

“As part of the planning modification approval, the next step is to ensure we have an updated Operational Environmental Management Plan in place for the start of the next season.”

Motorists urged to ‘check-in’ on driver animations in countdown to Sydney Gateway opening

The new toll-free, time-saving connection to Sydney Airport from the wider motorway network is on track to open to traffic on Sunday 1 September.

The NSW Government today released virtual drive-throughs showing the signage, lane configuration, and exits that drivers will need to know when Sydney Gateway opens.

The animated videos put motorists in the driver’s seat to see how Gateway connects the domestic and international terminals to the M8 and St Peters Interchange, and the wider motorway network.

Following the local traffic impacts that resulted from the opening of the Rozelle Interchange, motorists are urged to be as prepared as possible for how the new road works before Sunday 1 September.

For the first time on a big motorway project, signage and road markings on Gateway have been tested in advance with members of the public to ensure they are well understood. Feedback has led to 100 changes pre-opening.

Sydney Gateway’s five kilometres of new roads will transform access to the airport precinct. Motorists will save an estimated 17 minutes between the airport and the St Peters Interchange which connects to the M8, and the main routes to Western Sydney – the M5 and M4.

It will provide an alternative route for around 10,000 trucks per day travelling to the airport and Port Botany, reducing the number of trucks on local streets in and around Mascot.

As with all major project openings, Transport for NSW is expecting a period of disruption while drivers get used to their new routes. Local routes via Gardeners Road and Euston Road will still be available, but drivers who use those approaches are nonetheless encouraged to familiarise themselves with how Sydney Gateway works.

Sydney Airport will have in place kerb-side management measures at the international and domestic terminals to manage traffic flow through the airport.

Since November last year, the $2.6 billion Sydney Gateway has opened in stages to maximise construction efficiency and minimise disruption. This included the unveiling of the Deborah Lawrie Flyover into the airport’s domestic terminals, two stunning twin arch bridges close to the international terminal and a new and improved Airport Drive.

Testing and commissioning work, including integration of safety and IT systems with the broader road network, will continue before the final green light is given for the September 1 opening date.

Minister for Roads John Graham said:

“Sydney Gateway will transform the way we drive to and from Sydney Airport, plugging the international and domestic terminals directly into the motorway network.

“For anyone who has sat in traffic around Mascot as the minutes to a flight tick down, this will be a welcome piece of toll-free motorway, while the local community will see fewer trucks on their streets.

“Transport for NSW is working closely with Sydney Airport for the smoothest start but I urge all Sydney drivers to take a moment to familiarise themselves with the animations we are issuing today.

“Sydney Gateway supported more than 8000 jobs during its construction and I want to thank each and every one of those workers for transforming the airport precinct and Sydney’s entire road network for the better.”

Transport for NSW Deputy Secretary Camilla Drover said:

“We will be monitoring and adjusting the network when Sydney Gateway opens. A few weeks after opening will be school holidays, which we know is a particularly busy time for the airport, so we expect there will be an increase in road traffic over that period.”

“Construction work has progressed well throughout this major road infrastructure project, and it’s exciting we are in the home stretch towards opening to traffic.

“This is a transformative project for the airport precinct and Port Botany, and we will be working closely with our stakeholders on a smooth transition to opening.”

Sydney Airport CEO Scott Charlton said:

“Sydney Gateway is more than just a new road; it’s a critical infrastructure project that will significantly enhance connectivity to Sydney Airport, especially from Western Sydney. Important population and logistics hubs like Blacktown, Parramatta, Liverpool, and Eastern Creek will have significantly reduced travel times and a traffic light-free journey to Domestic.

“Gateway will also bring substantial benefits to our local community by diverting cars and trucks off local roads, thereby alleviating congestion, and reducing noise and pollution in the airport precinct.”

New Permanent public school open at Gregory Hills

The Minns Labor Government is continuing to ensure fast-growing communities in Sydney’s South-West have the infrastructure they need as new, permanent facilities at Gregory Hills Public School officially open this week.

The first sod was turned on this project by Premier Chris Minns, Deputy Premier and Minister for Education and Early Learning Prue Car, and Member for Camden, Sally Quinnell in May 2023. This week, more than 400 students from Kindergarten to Year Six began learning in the suburb’s first permanent public school.

The multi-million-dollar Gregory Hills Public School includes 44 classrooms, four support classrooms, a new library, communal hall, as well as staff, sporting and recreational amenities.

Importantly, the new Gregory Hills Public School has the capacity to meet the area’s future enrolment growth demands, with the capacity to cater to more than 1,000 students.

Prior to the completion of the permanent school, students were in a purpose-built temporary facility. To meet the growing community’s need for a public high school in the short term, the temporary school site will now be repurposed to cater for students of the new Gledswood Hills High School from Day 1, Term 1 2025.

Planning and community consultation on the new, permanent, Gledswood Hills High School is currently underway, with results of local feedback to be made public over the coming months.

The delivery of the new Gregory Hills Public School comes after an Enrolment Growth Audit undertaken by the Minns Labor Government found the former Coalition Government neglected the needs of young families in booming communities, failing to adequately plan for and build the schools they required.

The Audit found Gregory Hills and Gledswood Hills recorded the seventh fastest student enrolment growth from 2018 to 2023, with a 145 per cent surge – or an increase from 805 to 1,969.

Committed to during the state election, the findings of the Audit are foundational to the Minns Labor Government’s work to build high-quality schools in NSW’s areas of greatest need.

Rebuilding the vital education infrastructure in communities of greatest need is a priority of the Minns Labor Government, with the 2024-25 state budget including a historic $3.6 billion investment to build and upgrade schools in Western Sydney.

Premier of New South Wales Chris Minns said:

“For years this site was just a vacant block of land, as promises of a new school were left unfulfilled by the former government.

“One of my first visits when I became Labor Leader was to meet with parents in the Gregory Hills community and hear from them about the absolute necessity of this school. I was proud to return last year to turn the sod on this project, and I’m thrilled to be back to see the doors finally open for this community.

“Southwest Sydney is one of the fastest growing parts of Australia, and it is essential that we build the infrastructure to keep up with that growth.

“Congratulations to the families, teachers and community members who advocated tirelessly to ensure the students of Gregory Hills now have a quality, permanent, place to learn.”

Minister for Education and Early Learning Prue Car said:

“The opening of the new Gregory Hills Public School is a wonderful moment for this community, who have fought hard to have their educational needs met.

“This is one of the most rapidly growing parts of the state, and it is so important the Government invests in delivering high-quality public schools, so young families here can grow and thrive.

“I cannot wait to see what is accomplished at the new Gregory Hills Public School.”

Member for Camden Sally Quinnell said:

“Opening the new, permanent, public primary school for Gregory Hills is a fantastic day for our local community.

“The students of Gregory Hills and surrounds have waited so long to have their own public primary school, and I am so proud to be part of a Government that has delivered the essential public education infrastructure our community deserves.

“I want to thank everyone in the community who advocated for this school. Now that it has been delivered, the sky is the limit for our local students.”

Principal of Gregory Hills Public School, Alison Rourke said:

“Staff, students, and parents have been eagerly anticipating the grand opening of the new school.

“Teachers are thrilled about the contemporary classrooms and resources that will enhance their teaching and inspire their students. Students can’t wait to explore the new facilities and embark on their learning adventures.

“Parents are equally enthusiastic and confident that this new environment will provide their children with exceptional opportunities for growth and success.”

The Failures of Native Title in Australia: A Source of Division, Not Reconciliation

Published by Julie Hall, Candidate for Whitsunday

As a vehicle for reconciliation, native title has been a complete failure. All it does is create further division in Australia.

Reconciliation should be a process entered into freely and with goodwill, not arbitrarily imposed on unwilling participants.

Native title claims are imposed. Affected non-indigenous individuals and communities are not consulted. Governments and councils get a say, but their submissions on these claims never reflect the views of the communities they’re supposed to represent.

Australia today is not the largely unexplored continent of scattered British penal colonies and stone-age hunter gatherers it was in the early 19th century. Today, it’s a modern nation that has been built by every Australian, indigenous or otherwise. We have all contributed to the Australian story, and we should all share its land and its wealth, as well as its history—the good and the bad.

Native titles contradict this principle of equality. For one group of Australians to take over the country using exclusive rights that other Australians do not have is discrimination.

The proposal for a voice to Parliament also contradicted the same principle, but in that case, at least every Australian had a say in it and most of us – especially here in Central Queensland, where the no vote was around 80%—firmly rejected it. What a waste of $450 million that could have been better spent, for example by restoring funding to councils now shouldering the legal costs associated with assessing native title claims, while the claimants’ costs are still funded by taxpayers.

There are more than 70 native title applications waiting for determination. One of them includes a claim on the Central Queensland coast from Bowen to Midge Point, extending west to Monte Cristo and east to encompass Lindeman Island, the Whitsundays, Gloucester Island, and all the waters in between. Do we really know what these claims legally mean? My concern is how will these titles affect us in the future? The possibility that it will affect our tourism industry is real, given that this native title claim encompasses the Islands of the Whitsunday, including Whitsunday Island with its iconic Whitehaven Beach. Could it also affect fishing the waters contained within the title area or your ability to island hop in the future?

We’re told there’s nothing to worry about, nothing to see here, life will go on as usual. And that might be true of some of these claims under the existing legislation. But legislation can be changed, and who’s to say that a settled native title claim won’t lead to more exclusive rights and access being claimed later under a minority Labor government depending on the Greens to stay in power?

Australia should be able to be enjoyed by all Australians with equal rights; native title shows dangers of rights being based on race. It also raises concerns about what effect native title will have on our economic future and industry in the years to come regarding tourism, mining, farming and fishing. If Queensland becomes one big native title cultural heritage site what will that actually mean? We should get really clear on this now because we are heading down a very slippery slope of division as more and more titles are approved and more and more native title claims threaten to lock out anyone who is not a traditional owner.

If this is concerning you, then save the date of Sunday 4 August where I will be hosting special guests One Nation Senator Malcolm Roberts and law lecturer Hugh Carter here in the Whitsundays to explain native title and its legal implications. Venue to be advised.

LABOR MUST EXPAND SAFE INJECTING ROOMS TO PREVENT MORE TRAGIC DEATHS

The Greens have called on the new Premier to listen to the expert advice and expand safe injecting room services following the inquest into the tragic death of 15-year-old Tyrone Woxvold who died of a heroin overdose just a few hundred metres from Richmond’s supervised injecting room.

The Victorian Greens have fought to expand the eligibility criteria in line with the recommendations from the expert Ryan report. The Greens moved amendments through Parliament in May 2023 seeking to expand the service, including making it accessible to people under the age of eighteen.

The Victorian Greens drug harm reduction spokesperson, Aiv Puglielli said that as synthetic opioids take root in Victoria, the new Premier must stop blocking new injecting rooms or more lives will be at risk.

Victorian Greens drug harm reduction spokesperson, Aiv Puglielli:

“The Greens warned the Labor government that the deliberate exclusion of young people from injecting rooms would lead to preventable overdose deaths. The new Premier is ignoring the expert advice in continuing to block minors from life-saving care.

“The Ryan review into the North Richmond injecting room highlighted the need for these health services in the community. The evidence is clear – injecting rooms save lives.

“As synthetic opioids take root in Victoria, the new Premier blocking new injecting rooms and refusing access to existing care services for people who need them is putting lives at risk.

“Not a single death has occurred at the North Richmond injecting room since its establishment. If given access to this service, this young person’s life could have been saved.”

GREENS SLAM LABOR’S PLAN FOR MORE GAS OFF THE COAST OF VICTORIA

The Victorian Greens have slammed the Federal Labor government’s plan to drill for more climate-destroying gas off Victoria’s coastline.

The Federal Labor Government has approved permits to explore waters between South Australia, Victoria and Tasmania.

It comes after the Victorian Labor Government recently gave Beach Energy the final approval to extract gas offshore in the Otway Basin, where they have now started drilling near the iconic 12 Apostles.

The Leader of the Victorian Greens, Ellen Sandell said that it’s outrageous that in the middle of a climate crisis, the Victorian and Federal Labor Governments are both greenlighting more gas.

Leader of the Victorian Greens, Ellen Sandell:

“Make no mistake – this decision shows that Labor does not care about protecting us from climate change. Instead, they’re pouring fuel on the fire by approving more and more fossil fuel gas projects.”

“This is a disgraceful and dangerous decision that will commit young people to a climate-destroyed future of more bushfires, extreme weather and floods.”

“Labor at both Federal and State level is steamrolling ahead with a plan to wreck our climate and our oceans by approving more and more gas drilling. Labor’s plan hands huge profits to their mates in the big gas corporations, even though these companies export 80% of Australia’s gas overseas, and burning gas causes climate catastrophe.”

ISRAEL’S ATTACKS ON GAZA DESTROYED AUSTRALIAN WAR GRAVES AND SURROUNDINGS

The Australian Greens have obtained satellite imagery that shows the destruction of Australian war graves in Gaza and the surrounding area.

The Gaza War Cemetery is in the al-Tuffah area, near Gaza City. Over 250 Australian soldiers are buried in the Commonwealth Gaza War Cemetery and thousands of other soldiers from across Britain, Canada, India and New Zealand, casualties from two World Wars.

The Commonwealth War Graves Commission (CWGC), an international consortium of which Australia is a member tasked with ensuring the graves of soldiers are maintained, notified the Australian Government in March 2024 that there was damage to the graves in Gaza.

In response the Australian government did nothing. It made no inquiries about the extent of the damage and critically no protest to Israel about the damage.

Since that report, there have been further repeated heavy strikes on al-Tuffah including on June 22 which saw bombing and artillery shelling around the area which killed at least 40 people.

Satellite images from July 7 show there has been significantly more damage to the cemetery than March, including more craters, churned-up dirt and debris. The images also show the staggering destruction of the surrounding area in Palestine.

Senator David Shoebidge, Greens Spokesperson on Defence: “When the Albanese Labor Government exerts no pressure on those who commit war crimes, they just continue committing war crimes. The desecration of war graves by Israel is another example of this.”

“When you look at these pictures it is important to zoom out and see the surrounding damage with homes, farms, workplaces, in fact entire communities destroyed.

“Make no mistake, the State of Israel hit these war graves because it could, because there would be no punishment from Australia or the UK. It has made Gaza into a gravesite for the same reasons.

“More than 38,000 Palestinians have been killed, and tens of thousands more injured, since Israel invaded Gaza and the Albanese Government has taken no material steps to stop the genocide.

“Even in the face of desecrated Australian war graves there has been no pushback from the Albanese government, no complaint, no protest. That is hard to understand.

“The Government could end the two-way arms trade, sanction Benjamin Netanyahu’s extreme government and expel the ambassador, but it chooses not to.”

The Gaza War Cemetery and sourrounding area in Gaza, Palestine, August 2023 (SkyWatch).

The Gaza War Cemetery and sourrounding area in Gaza, Palestine, July 2024 (SkyWatch).

Ordinary Council Meeting Tuesday 23 July 2024

Following is a summary of resolutions from the Ordinary Council meeting of Tuesday 23 July 2024. NB: it is not a full record of resolutions.

Lord Mayoral Minutes

Commitment to education and training opportunities

A Lord Mayoral Minute was unanimously supported noting City of Newcastle’s commitment to upskilling, training and education opportunities for the local community through programs such as Future Fit program for apprentices, trainees, undergraduates and graduates and the Lord Mayor’s Scholarship Program.

Newcastle Premier League T20 cricket competition

A Lord Mayoral Minute was unanimously supported that congratulated the Newcastle Hunters cricket club and their organising committee on the successful start of Season 3 of their Newcastle Premier League T20 cricket competition and acknowledged the significant role this multicultural cricket competition plays in supporting migrants and refugees in our community.

It also recognised the significant impact that the City of Newcastle Grants and Sponsorship program has in supporting community organisations like these that build the diverse cultural fabric of the city.

Congratulating Novocastrian Olympians

A Lord Mayoral Minute was unanimously supported extending our heartfelt congratulations to the Novocastrian athletes selected to represent Australia at the upcoming 2024 Olympic Games and 2024 Paralympic Games.

Ordinary business

Supplementary report – Special Business Rate audit outcome

Council noted the transparent and effective framework of City of Newcastle’s SBR expenditure policy as confirmed by a recent independent audit of 2022/23 expenditure. The audit found that the SBR expenditure processes and controls are functioning as intended with few minor additional actions necessary at this time.

Adoption of public outcomes – Western Corridor road upgrades

Council unanimously approved the proposed scope of the (Western Corridor) Traffic Management Ancillary Works and endorsed consultation for the fixing of road levels on Longworth Avenue between Newcastle Road and Minmi Road, and at Minmi Road between Maryland Drive (east) and west of the Summerhill Road roundabout.

Heritage item – 13 Section Street, Mayfield

Council unanimously voted to endorse the planning proposal to amend Newcastle Local Environment Plan 2012 to create a new heritage item at 13 Section Street, Mayfield. The planning proposal will be forwarded to the Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure for gateway determination, followed by community and agency consultation as required.

Tender report – Bar Beach rehabilitation and reinstatement

Council voted unanimously to accept a tender for the construction of the southern access ramp and walkway deflector wall at Bar Beach.

Notices of Motion

Improving turnover of city parking for the benefit of small businesses to increase trade in CBD of Newcastle

Council unanimously supported an amended notice of motion to review the existing two-hour parking from 9am to 12pm on Saturdays and increase to the hours of 9am to 4pm on Saturdays and Sundays in the Hunter and King Street area to the east of Newcastle’s central business district.

Council will undertake, in line with the Parking Plan 2021, a staged review of timed parking restrictions in the area bound by King Street, Scott Street, Hunter Street, Darby Street and Pacific Street; with a view to improve parking turnover on weekday evenings and on Saturdays, Sundays, and public holidays.

Support for our creative workers

Council unanimously supported a notice of motion that noted City of Newcastle’s ongoing support for the arts, cultural and creative industries in Newcastle. It acknowledged the need to plan how we support these industries in Newcastle over the next 10 years and committed, in the first 12 months of the next term of Council, to investigating options for retaining and increasing affordable creative workspaces across Newcastle and preparing a 10-year Cultural Plan for the city, which includes support for our creative workers and their creative workspaces as a strategic priority.

Confidential Reports

Tender report for processing of recyclables

Council unanimously voted to accept the tender from iQRenew for processing of recyclables.

Councils asked to show flexibility for warehouses to clear supply chain backlog

The NSW Government has today issued a circular to councils asking them to take into consideration the need for supply chain recovery over the next two weeks when responding to any complaints about operations at warehouses and distribution centres, wholesale and retail centres.

The unprecedented software failure first detected on Friday ground deliveries of fresh produce and other grocery items at many warehouses and distribution centres across NSW to a halt.

The NSW Government is asking councils to be sympathetic to the exceptional circumstances and support supermarkets and other essential retailers to help keep their shelves stocked following disruptions to supply chains caused by last week’s CrowdStrike global IT outage.

Supply chains depend on IT systems to manage their inventory, coordinate the movement of goods and share information. When those systems failed, it left items unable to enter or leave warehouses and distribution centres.

While many warehouses and distribution centres have resumed normal operations, there is still a significant backlog of fresh produce and other essential goods requiring processing before they can reach supermarket shelves and other retailers.

The Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979 and its regulation authorises councils to take compliance action in response to breaches of conditions of a development consent relating to operating hours, noise limits and vehicle movement caps.

The planning circular however reminded councils they also have discretion in choosing whether to exercise their enforcement powers. This includes considering the temporary nature of any breach, the low level of harm caused and the broader public interest in restoring supply chains.

To read the circular, visit here

Minister for Planning and Public Spaces Paul Scully said:

“It’s imperative that our state’s supply chain systems be provided with flexibility in order to recover and return to normal service after this global IT outage. This will enable customers to receive delivery of these essential goods while also avoiding food wastage.

“I’m asking councils to use their discretion in choosing whether to issue penalty infringement notices for warehouse and distribution centres as well as wholesale and retail centres operating beyond their normal hours as well as being restocked.

“This temporary approach for the next two weeks will allow our supermarket shelves to continue to be stocked with essential food and household items.”

$4.6 million to fight food waste in NSW

The Minns Labor Government is helping businesses and food rescue organisations tackle food waste with $4.6 million in new grants to save more edible food from landfill.

The funding has been awarded to organisations that can make the most impact to reduce the 1.7 million tonnes of food that is wasted each year in NSW. By reducing food waste, we can support people facing food insecurity while reducing our greenhouse gas emissions from landfill.

Under the first round of the new Food Rescue Grants, nearly $3 million has been given to support 20 charities and community organisations to rescue more surplus or donated food and deliver it to people in need across NSW.

Recipients include larger state-wide organisations like FoodBank, OzHarvest and SecondBite as well as community-based organisations fighting food insecurity across Sydney and in regional centres like Dubbo, Albury and Wollongong.

The grants will be used to enhance and expand food rescue infrastructure, helping organisations to buy bigger trucks and fridges and employ more people to save edible food and feed the vulnerable in NSW.

At the same time, $1.66 million has been awarded through the first round of Business Food Waste Partnerships Grants to help peak bodies, sector leaders and councils work together to find opportunities to stop food from going to waste.

Thanks to this funding, Sydney Children’s Hospitals, the NSW Department of Education, organisations in the Hunter and Riverina, and a range of hospitality and winery businesses will leverage their partnerships to improve their focus on food waste avoidance and recycling.

For more information about the Food Rescue Grants, go to: https://www.epa.nsw.gov.au/working-together/grants/organics-infrastructure-fund/food-rescue-grants

For more information about the Business Food Waste Partnerships Grants, go to: https://www.epa.nsw.gov.au/working-together/grants/organics-infrastructure-fund/business-food-waste-partnership-grants

Minister for Climate Change and the Environment Penny Sharpe:

“Across NSW, up to 70% of wasted food is still edible, we have to turn this around.

“It’s not about just reducing waste but rethinking how we value and use the food we have

“This funding will help food rescue charities by giving them better infrastructure to take more donated and rescued food.

“It will also make sure businesses, hospitals, councils and other institutions are upskilling their networks to avoid food waste, and increase their donations and recycling – helping to save nearly 600,000 tonnes of food waste every year.”